Recently Aquatics International started aiconnect a place where aquatic professionals from all over the world can come together and connect through a micro social networking solution called ning.com
At first I was wondering would this work, but within a few weeks of me finding the site the membership climbed to over 500 members currently at 511 members with 100o’s more that will join as they find it. This is exactly what Aquatics has been waiting for and is the future of information exchange and hot topic discussion. I suggest you join, because no matter what it will engage you, make you think about your profession and at times reinvigorate you to try new things and develop new strategies.
In the past few weeks I have done an informal poll on what the people think of the site, pretty much everybody loves it, but there a small number that worry about the topics of discussion. They worry that many aquatic professionals are discussing topics that could come back to haunt them. I agree that we need to maintain professionalism at all times and if topics are of a highly sensitive nature then those topics should be discussed in private forums, or face to face. I don’t think this is something to stress about but, do believe that we should be careful everywhere we go on the internet. Basically think before you write.
I have a few questions for you the reader:
1. Are open social networks good in a professional environment?
2. Should only closed networks such as the CPRS Aquatics Section exists to protect the operator from liability and public view?
3. Should any of this information be exchanged in an electronic form?
Please leave your comments below.
Chris Lundie
The Aquatic Professional
I have embedded this video to make a point. If we were as persistent in our career as this guy is on his bike…… Nothing could stop you! Get our there and practice you career as an Aquatic Professional until you succeed, set your goals high, and keep raising them higher.
-Chris
The Aquatic Professional
Every year in September drownings occur. Just today I was reading about a two year old in our community that drowned in his backyard pool. What made front page news was relegated to a one line blog post from the local radio station. How does thi snot shock a community? How does this not make front page news?
When I think of water safety education I always think beginning of Summer as I am sure most of us do. It is time for us to re-analyze and strategize for safety education ever day of our career. I am calling all of you to action. Make water safety a priority! Make it the most important part of your career.
Below I have listed some simple ways to promote water safety. I challenge you to not just promote it, but take ever opportunity you can to educate those below you, your peers, and all the levels above you. Make sure that you find ways to educate everyone you can. Aquatic Professionals do this all across the land and we need more people doing it.
- Hang a water safety poster for you and staff
- Show make a quick top ten water safety tips video to play in your facility lobby and on your website
- Join a pool operator group with an extensive water safety program
- List resources on your website
- Hand out water safety flier to everyone in your community
- Create a public education campaing where you visit schools or community groups to give talks and water safety demonstrations
- Have water safety topics prior to each swim lesson.
I am sure there are tons more so if you have them please drop them in the comments below.
-The Aquatic Professional
Well the Summer for 2009 is slowly coming to a close. Don’t forget that this is the time when many Aquatic Professionals get lazy and start to drop the ball. This is the time when you need to really step up and think about ways to improve next year. Here are 5 ideas for how you can de-brief in a sense and really get yourself on the right track for next year.
- Get Staff input. Have staff fill out an anonymous questionnaire about your newly implemented ideas (if you didn’t have any then get cracking, every year you should have a few). Make sure they know they should be honest but also think from the perspective of what is best for the organization/facility. You don’t want there personal rants, belive me I have been there before.
- Review your feedback. Review your comment cards, lesson evaluation, e-service requests or etc. for clues on what is and is not working.
- Review your problems or challenges. Review your log books and personal log file to look for patterns. Sometimes a simple problem fix has taken you hours to figure out. Fix it so next year you have one less headache.
- Analyze your budget. In these hard time analyze you budget and be prepared with the numbers from this year. When the economy takes a hit sometimes the numbers show marked growth in Aquatics. be prepared to justify why you exist.
- Build an end of season report. This can look like a massive document but break it down into very small simple areas. Make sure there are pictures of that year and very simple graphs showing growth or changes in trends, programming staffing or otherwise. THIS IS GOLD to upper level management and must be done to sell yourself as a true Aquatic Professional.
-Chris
The Aquatic Professional
We summer is in full swing for everyone in Aquatics. This is the time of year when staff are ready to go and ready to respond when needed. This is in my opinion the sweet spot in aquatics.
Just a reminder stay vigilant and keep your in-service going strong. It is very important and vital to everyone in the Aquatics World.
-Chris
It is time for Aquatic Professionals to start building resources for aquatics. Aquatics International has put together a list of people you should check out. http://www.aquaticsintl.com/blogs/index.html
This is your opportunity to get your ideas on the table, and start contributing. you can start a free blog at blogger.com wordpress.com
If you would like help setting up a blog feel free to shoot me an e-mail clundie@clundie.com and I will be happy to get you started.
Chris Lundie
Aquatic Professional
I don’t know about you but summer is here in Southern California. The weather is supposed to be over 100 degrees this weekend and there is no relief in sight.
This time of year all of us in the Aquatics World are thrown new challenges and this year more than most with the state of the economy.
I have been thinking of ways to still develop as a professional. It has always been my goal to spend 10% of my salary on professional development. This is not always possible but is bound to keep you ahead of the pack in a time when jobs are being cut if you can reinvent the wheel you will succeed and will develop into a the future of not only aquatics but higher level management. I encourage you to go crazy and spoil yourself. Take the time to register for a conference, go back to school, read and begin to develop.
Chris Lundie
Aquatic Professional
